Fear&Trembling

Are there any Trek folding bike users out there?

I have just got hold of a viciously modified Trek F200 (fixed wheel, chopped stem etc) and was interested in any reports/reviews of the bikes...

Oh, and I have already examined previous posts...

LittlePixel

So you've probably read about my Girlfriends F400...?
If not - it's nice - good gearing, well equipped etc. I personally don't like the ride position. It's aimed at the hybrid commuter set and as such has a very upright position for a shorter male (5'5"). I guess if you are taller the handlebar height is ok but for me at it's lowest point it's too high. One other thing I don't like - something to do with this height of the bars, the offset of the stem the rake of the forks and the relatively light front means the steering is very light (compared to my Raleigh Twenty) It's stable - the steering almost seems self-righting in fact - but on a climb I feel a little scared as the front wheel is close to doing a wheelie if you put some work into grabbing the bars for extra grunt...

Chop!

Let's see the little devil then!

Fear&Trembling

Thanks LittlePixel.

I thought the same about the sit-up and beg handlebar height/stem angle. Luckily with the mods the F200 comes equipped with a 1 1/8 quill and a 120mm Syncros Stem - the bars are currently around 90cms (possible lower) from the ground. This provides extra reach, a lower profile and should make the front end less twitchy. Will have to see how it handles tonight.

May take a pic tomorrow if I stop riding...

14R 

Greetings Trekie,

Please share your goodie. We Humans want pictures.

bobkat

I have a Trek "Navigater 400" I don't know how this varies from the F200 or F400, but I imagine it is pretty much the same. I also have a Raleigh 20 and a Downtube. I generally ride the Trek or DT as I plan to convert the Raliegh to a recumbent folder. and like 8 speeds versus 3 on the 20. I thoroughly enjoy riding both of them, and blindfolded I would be hard pressed to say what I was on. (Or where I was going????) Yes, the steering is lighter on the Trek but as I usually ride a LWB recumbent, I get that "almost wheelie" feeling from any short light folder. My wife is 5' 6 and I am 5' 10'' and it seems to adjust fine for both of us, and my 8 year old grandaughter can adjust it to fit her reasonably well.
For what we use folders for - fold em up and throw em in the back of a small car and drive usually no more than 20 miles at a time when travelling - the little Trek is great, as is the DT and probably the Raleigh 20.
I got my Trek for about $200, an end of the season sale. It's suggested regular price was $650 (maybe that's why it didn't sell) which I think is way too high when compared with other folders like the DT.
Not a bad little bike, though, for what it is intended.............
I can't comment on all the technical details - all I know is that it is a fun little bike, folds nicely, shifts reliably, and while I wouldn't want to try a century on it, it rides pretty good for us.

Fear&Trembling

A couple of pics.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/16114972@N00/?saved=1

Edd

Great looking bikes, thanks for posting. How did you get 'hold' of it.

james_swift

Single-speed...oh hell yeah! That's a an absolute beauty. Could you up some pics of the drivetrain? Is it a cassette hub conversion, or a true single-speed/fixed hub?

I've seen the same Trek, but stock, on the commuter train, and it certainly doesn't look 1/16th as badass as this.

Fear&Trembling

It has a Suzue flip-flop hub. Right hand side is a 14t fixed sprocket, left hand side a 16t freewheel - best of both worlds...

LittlePixel

Ooh... I'm liking it a lot. It looks well sweet without all that mudguard/rack/cable nonsense cluttering the lines... I've always loved those Bontrager wheels (But for a stockist in the UK) and it's got a far meaner dynamic look with that adapted stem and riser bars. Very jealous - it looks like a fun ride...

(Contemplating stealing girlfriend's bike, spraying it matte black and copying heh...)

james_swift

How 'bout the chainring, specifically, what make/model and how many teeth? I've been looking for a chainring like that (like a Specialized).

bobkat

I'm not very computer literate, but how do you post a picture on the website? Does it have to be on line somewhere else? Thanks Bob

Fear&Trembling

How 'bout the chainring, specifically, what make/model and how many teeth? I've been looking for a chainring like that (like a Specialized).

It's an FSA 53t - 130 BCD. It is currently running with a 14t sprocket, giving about 71 gear inches. Perhaps in a couple of months I will swop it for a 13t - depends on my fitness. I will also fit a different riser (40mm as opposed to 25mm) and a MTB brake lever (currently it has a cyclo-cross lever). A Stelvio will probably take the place of the Marathon Slick up front.

The bike rides very smooth, handles well and is fast. Not sure of the exact weigh though.

james_swift

Cool...thanks for all the info!

Fear&Trembling

Although I am not riding an off-the-peg Trek F200 folder, I thought a few preliminary observations about the bike might be of (limited) interest.

The Bontranger Select wheels are light and the Marathon Slick (35-406) tyres provide a robust and aesthetically pleasing platform for everyday riding. That said, I have ordered Continental Contact Sports (28-406/max PSI:105) as they should have less rolling resistance, and if the promotional blurb is to be believed, better puncture resistance!

The frame feels very stiff, with minimal frame-flex. The oversized hydro-formed tubing with its central frame latch (tall and well machined) binds the bike with a reassuring “clunk”. What’s more, I was happy to get out of the saddle on a slight gradient – something I am loath to do on my Birdy. The wheelbase is a mm or so shy of 1050mm.

The ride is certainly harsher than my Birdy, but this is only to be expected, as it does not have front or rear suspension. However, the bike rides well and is not twitchy. I am considering fitting a Meks (or possibly Action Tec) suspension fork with disc mounts in order to preserve the Bontranger rims, soften up the front-end and improve braking modulation. This will probably not please fixed purists (who prefer a sleek, pared down, Zen-like riding experience...), but as this is a bespoke fixed folder, I like the idea of being an attention-seeking iconoclast, even if I am derided for it!

The bike folds easily and is intuitive (unlike a Birdy), but like most 20” bikes, the folded package is relatively large compared to a Brompton, but generally on par with 20” Dahons.

I am 6’ 2” and the seat-post is already at the minimum insertion mark. Therefore if you have an inseam longer than 34” – you might have to source a longer seat-post. I have not measured the post’s diameter, but I think it corresponds to Dahon’s proprietary seat-posts.

Finally, I would not have considered this bike as my 2nd folder due to its limited saddle to handlebar reach, but with the quill stem modification and 70 gear inches it is an excellent urban commuter.